Fluid pressure operated apparatus



1942. H. R. CANFIELD' FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F W H w Patented Nov. 10, 1942 2,301,613 FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED APPARATUS Harry It.

Canfield, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Clark Controller Company,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 25, 1948, Serial No. 358,326

5 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure operated apparatus.

My invention may be applied to various uses in which an apparatus element is required to be moved a predetermined distance from a normal position with a timed movement and restored to normal position.

A particularly useful application of my invention is the pneumatic operation of an electric contactor to control the welding current supplied to a welding device or gun.

It is desirable in such cases: to cause the contactor to close to initiate the current impulse, and after a predetermined time interval to open again to break the current thus measuring the duration of the welding current impulse; and to correlate the operation of the contactor with the movement or position of the electrodes of a welding gun or machine to insure that the electrodes will be fully engaged with the work when the current flow begins; and to cause the electrodes to remain engaged with the work being welded for a measured time interval after the welding current is broken; and to control the frequency at which successive impulses of welding current may follow each other; and in some cases, to control the frequency at which successive operations of the electrodes of the welding machine or gun may follow each other; and to insure that a complete cycle of operation for making a weld may be fully completed when once initiated; and to cause either a continuous succession of the welding cycles of operation to occur one after the other in rapid succession upon a single actuation of the apparatus, or to cause only a single cycle to occur after each actuation of the apparatus.

It is the primary object of this invention'to provide an apparatus having some or all of the aforesaid characteristics of operation, structed and functioning in an improved manner to control a welding apparatus and the welding current supplied thereto.

Other objects are:

To provide a pneumatic apparatus having an improved valve control therefor;

To provide an apparatus of the class referred to having improved means to insure a desired predetermined sequence of a plurality of functions controlling the movement of a movable apparatus element for example the movement of a contactor controlling the welding current supplied to a welding apparatus;

To provide an improved apparatus of the class referred to having improved means to insure and cona desired predetermined sequence of a plurality of functions controlling the operation of a fluid operated machine, for example awelding ma chine or gun;

To provide an improved apparatus for controlling the movement .of a fluid actuated movable member by controlling the admission and and an electric circuit for supplying current to the gun under the control of the contactor, and illustrating also electro-pneumatic means for controlling the supply of fluid pressure from a fluid pressure source;

Figs. 2 and 3 are views, similareach to a part of Fig. 1, but illustrating modifications.

Referring to the drawings I have shown atl a welding gun or welding machine having a stationary electrode 2, supported on an arm 3 which is rigidly secured to a pneumatic cylinder t. A piston 5 within the cylinder, shown in dotted line, has a piston rod projecting therefrom to which is secured a movable electrode 6. Fluid pressure such as compressed air is supplied to the gun by way of a conduit 1 from a source of-iiuid pressure 8 in a manner to be described, and flowing through a duct 9, enters. the cylinder 4 and forces the piStonB and electrode E outwardly to engage work pieces ill-i0 between the electrodes 2-6 with pressure.

The compressed air is supplied from the source 8 to the conduit 1 through a conduit ll under the control of a magnetic valve illustrated gen-v erally at [Z and comprising an electro-magnetic' winding l3 arranged to lift a plunger i4 against the tension of a restoring spring l5. With the parts in the normal position illustrated, compressed air in the conduit 1 and therefore in the cylinder 4 may exhaust backwardly through the conduit 1 and through a branch conduit" it and through a port I! in the plunger H to atmosphere. When the winding i3 is energized the plunger it is raised and the port I! moves to a position in alignment with the conduits H and 1 cutting oiT the exhaust and effecting communication with the source 8.

An operators push button 18 is arranged to energize the winding 13 through a relay shown generally at I!) in the following manner.

Upon pressing the push button [8 current is supplied from a main A through a Wire El and a wire 23 to one contact of the push button, and from the other contact of the push button the current flowing by a wire 24 and a switch 22, to be referred to, through the winding 25 of the relay and by a wire 26 to the other main 203.

This operates the relay [3 causing it to close two sets of contacts 27 and 28. The contacts 21 bridge the push button contacts by a circuit comprising a wire 29 and a switch 3| to be referred to, so that when the push button is released the relay stays closed; and the contacts 28 close a circuit through the winding l3 of the magnetic valve 12, the current flowing by the wire 21 as before to one end of the winding, thence through the winding l3 and back by the wire 30 to the switch 28, to the wire 26 and thence to the main 2013.

This arrangement therefore is such that upon a momentary closing of the push button 13, the relay is operated and makes a maintaining circuit for itself and energizes the magnetic valve. To de-energize the relay and close the valve l2, the switch 3! is provided, which when opened in a manner to be described restores the parts just described, putting them back again under the control of the push button.

When the welding gun I is operated as just described to engage the electrodes 2 and 6 with the work pieces I0, current may be supplied, to effect the weld in the work, from the secondary 32 of a transformer having a primary 33, one side of the primary being connected to a current supply line 35A and the other side being connected by a wire 35 to a switch arm 31 and thereby to a switch contact 33, the other current supply line 35 being connected to another contact 34.

The switch arm 31 is pivoted on a main arm 39 being rendered yieldable upon engagement of the contacts by a spring 40 in a well known manner, the main arm 39 being pivotally supported at 4! upon a panel 42. The switch arm 39 has a horizontal extension resting upon the upper end of a vertical piston rod 46. By upper reciprocation of the rod 48, the switch contacts 38 and 34 are engaged for the purposes described, as will be understood.

The piston rod 45 has on the lower end thereof a piston 4'! reciprocable in a cylinder 48 and is constrained to move downward by a spring 49 and is stopped in a final downward position by a stop 53 on the piston rod externally of the cylinder.

The lower end of the cylinder 43 is closed by a plug 51 into which is threaded a valve housing 52 the interior of which communicates through a port 53 with the interior of the cylinder 48 below the piston 41, the interior also communicating by a conduit 54 with the duct 9 of the welding gun above described.

By this arrangement when compressed air is supplied to the gun 1 through the duct 9 to move the electrode 6 as de cribed, the yielding of the piston 5 in the gun maintains the air pressure in the duct 9 below its ultimate pressure value; and after the electrodes 6 and 2 engage the work, this pressure builds up to a higher value and is communicated through the conduit 54 to the cylhousing T4 and thence through a inder 48; and when it reaches a sufliciently high pressure value, is suiiicient to overcome the spring 49 and moves the piston 4? upwardly, to operate the switch.

The rate of movement of the plunger 47 may be controlled by a needle valve 55 controlling the through the port 53, if such control is desired.

The contacts 38 and of the contactor are thus clcsed when air from the gun I is communicated to the cylinc or G8 and they will be held closed as long as the pressure is maintained in the cylinder. To open them after a predetermined time interval to time the current, the cylinder 43 is exhausted by apparatus which will now be described.

Adjacent the cylinder 43 is a valve housing 56 in which is reciprocable a piston valve 51. The piston valve is arranged to be lifted by the upward movement of a control piston 59 reciprocable in a cylinder as and having a piston rod 6| connected externally of the cylinder by an arm 52 to a stem 63 on the upper end of the Valve 57, Preferably the arm 62 is rigidly secured at opposite ends to the piston rod SI and to the valve 51.

The piston 53 is normally supported by a stop 64 on the rod 6i and is constrained to move downwardly by a spring 65 Within the cylinder. The arm 62 supports the valve 57.

When air is admitted as above described to the main cylinder 48 from the housing 52, it is also admitted from the housing 52 through a conduit 66 to a valve port 51, the air flowing out of the port and around a neck 68 on the valve and out at a duct 89 whence it flows by a duct 2'0 to the cylinder 63.

The piston 59 is thereby moved upwardly and its rate of movement is controlled by a needle valve 72 in the housing 52 at the entrance to the conduit 66.

As the piston 59 moves upwardly it moves the valve 57 with it at a timed rate determined by the adjustment of the needle valve 12. After it has moved a suitable distance, it effects communication to the cylinder 60 directly from the source of fluid pressure, the compressed air flowing from the source by a conduit 73 to a valve conduit i5 through a port is which in the normal position of the valve was cut off from communication with a duct 77 leading into the duct 76, but which, now that the valve 51 has moved upwardly, has communication therewith, and supplies air to the cylinder 63.

At about the time that the valve opens the port 75, it closes the port 61 by means of a shoulder T8 at the lower end of the neck 63, and also opens an exhaust port 13 leading from the main cylinder 48, the port 19 being uncovered by a shoulder 83 at the upper end of a neck Bl on the valve.

The piston 47 is now returned downwardly by the spring 49, and the switch contacts 34 and 38 are opened by a switch arm spring 82, reacting upon the panel 42 and upon the switch arm 3;). The piston 59 however continues to move upwardly being supplied by air through the conduit 55 and i s ra e of movement is controlled by a needle valve 33 at the entrance to the conduit 15.

The cylinder 63 is provided with an exhaust passageway by way of the duct 19 and a duct "H, and an outlet port 34, the port being covered by a portion 85 of the valve which is detached from the main portion 5! above it. The portion 85 is normally held in position to close this exhaust passageway by a friction pad 86 pressing against one side of the valve under the pressure of a spring 81. A stem 88 on the lower end of the main valve portion 51 extends downwardly through the valve portion 85. After a suitable time interval and corresponding movement of the piston 59 under control of the needle valve 83, a stop 89 on the lower end of the stem 88 engages the lower end of the valve portion 85 and moves it upwardly opening the exhaust port 84 and exhausting the cylinder 69 under control of a needle valve 9|. At this time, the lower end 99 of the main valve portion 51 is spaced upwardly from the upper end of the valve portion 85.

The piston 59 is now moved downwardly by the spring 65 and moves the valve 51 with it closing off the exhaust 19 from the main cylinder and restoring the control for the cylinder 69 to the needle valve 12, and the lower end 99 of the main valve portion engages the valve portion 85 and moves it downwardly to close oiT the exhaust port 84 for the cylinder 68.

The parts are now in their original positions and if the relay l9 were to remain in its operated position, the main piston 41 would again move upwardly and close the switch and give another impulse of current to the electrodes, but when it is desired to avoid this, the switch 3| above referred to in the circuit of the winding 25 of the relay is opened by the upward movement of the piston rod 5| at the upper limit of its movement. The switch comprises an arm 43 pivotally supported at 44 and pressed by a spring 58 into engagement with a contact |l8. A finger M9 on the piston rod 6| rocks the arm 43 to disengage the contact.

This switch 3|, illustrated structurally above the piston rod 6|, is reproduced diagrammatically in association with the relay l9 to avoid the complication of a wiring diagram making connection to the structural representation of the switch.

When switch 3| is opened, at the upper end of the stroke of the piston 59 and the valve 51, the relay i9 opens which de-energizes the magnetic valve winding |3, causing the valve to move to shut off the source of fiuid pressure 8, and to exhaust the gun I, and the cylinder 48, so that by the time the piston 41 has returned downwardly to open the switch contacts 34--38, the air supply has been cut off through the agency of the switch 3|, and the piston remains down and the switch remains open.

It will be observed that the piston 41 cannot move upwardly to close the switch contacts 39 and 94 until the electrodes 2 and 6 of the welding gun have fully engaged the work because not until then will the pressure in the cylinder 48 be sufi'icient to raise the plunger against the tension of the spring 49. If further delay is wanted it may be provided by adjusting the screw 55.

The period of time during which the contacts 38-34 remain engaged may be adjustably varied by the valve screw 12 which controls the rate at which air is admitted to the cylinder 59 under the piston 59.

After the piston 59 has moved a predetermined distance, and the air is exhausted from the cylinder 49, the piston 41 returns and the contacts 38-34 open but the electrodes 2-45 remain engaged with the work because the magnetic valve |2 remains operated. This holding of the electrodes engaged with the work after performing a weld and after the welding current is cut off is sometimes referred to as cold hold, and is desirable in some classes of spot welding for well known reasons.

This cold hold time is determined by the adjustment of the valve screw 83 which controls the continued upward movement of the piston 59 until it operates the switch 3| to effect opening of the relay l9 and restoring of the valve l2, causing the valve |2 to exhaust the gun I and allow the electrodes 26 to open terminating the cold hold. The piston 59 then returns downwardly, exhausting through the ducts 18 and H, and out at the port 84 as described, under the control of a valve screw 9|, which controls the velocity at which the piston 59 returns.

When the piston 59 has fully returned, it closes a switch 22, comprising an arm I28 normally held away from a contact |2| by a spring |22 and pivotally supported at I23. The finger H! rocks the switch arm to engage the contact. This switch (like switch 3| referred to) is reproduced diagrammatically in association with the relay |9. Not until this switch is closed is it again possible to start another cycle of operations and the valve screw 9| therefore controls the frequency with which successive operations can be performed.

The next operation is performed by again pushing the push button It; but it will be apparent that if the push button It were to be held closed, then at each completion of one cycle and closure of the switch 22 by the piston 59 at the bottom of its stroke, another cycle would immediately begin and the apparatus therefore would repeat continuously.

The form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 2 is in general, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, except that in this form the admission of air to the cylinder is under the control of the piston 41. When the piston 41 and its piston rod 46 are moved upwardly, an arm 92 rigidly secured thereto moves upwardly therewith, and the free end 93 of the arm loosely encircles a stem 94 secured to the upper end of the valve 95. At a suitable point in the upward stroke of the piston 41, the free end 93 of'the arm 92 engages a stop 95 on the valve stem and raises the valve 95. This causes a neck 91 on the valve to come opposite a port 61, corresponding to the port 61, described for the first form, whereupon air is admitted to the cylinder 98 through the ducts 69 and 19, and the piston 59 moves upwardly under the control of the valve screw '12.

An arm 98 is rigidly secured to the stem 94 above the stop 96 and has a free end 99 loosely encircling the piston rod I of the piston 59 and it moves upwardly freely thereover when the valve stem 94 rises as above described. As the piston 59 moves upwardly, a stop IOI thereon ultimately engages the free end 99 of the arm 98 and again starts upward movement of the valve 95. This movement causes the neck 97 on the valve to pass beyond the port 81 cutting off the supply of air through the port and causing a shoulder I02 on the valve to open a port 19, corresponding to the port 16 described for the first form, whereby air is admitted through the ducts Ti and 18 to the cylinder 69 to continue its movement upwardly under the control of the needle screw 83. Continued upward movement of the valve by the piston 5-9 ultimately exhausts the cylinder 48 through the duct 19, and exhaust-s the cylinder 68 through the port 84 causing it to return under the control of the valve screw 9 all as described in connection with the first form.

Switches 3| and 2 2 may be provided operated by the finger ||9 on the upper end of the piston rod I09 in the same manner as the corresponding switches were operated by the piston rod Si in the first form.

It will be observed that in the first described form, air is admitted at once to the cylinder 60, and if the valve screw 12 is carelessly adjusted, the piston rod 6| may rise and cut off the control before the piston i'i has actually closed the contacts 38-2-4.

In the form of Fig. 2, however, air to the cylinder E9 is not admitted through the port 57 until after the piston 47 has made a substantial movement or has actually closed the contacts 3834, and by its movement moves the valve initially high enough to open the port Bl. Thereafter the control of the valve is taken over by the piston 59 as described for the first form.

All of the features of operation of the first described form may be had with that of Fig. 2.

In the form of Fig. 3, a simplified structure is shown in which the cold hold time interval is omitted.

Air is admitted through the conduit 54 to the cylinder 48 and raises the piston 47 to operate the main switch contacts by the piston rod 48,

and air, at the same time flows out of the cylinder 48 through a duct m3 and around a neck H24 on the valve through ducts I35 and I24 to the cylinder 39 under the control of a valve screw I416. The piston 59 therefore moves up concurrently with the piston 41 but at such a rate that the first piston may close the switch contacts 3438 before the rod Hi! on the piston 55 has moved far enough to open the switch 3!. The valve I88 has an arm H39 rigidly connected thereto a free end of which loosely encircles the piston rod 18 Near the top of the stroke of the piston 59, a stop liil on the piston rod [0! engages the arm Hi9 and moves it and the valve I53 upwardly to an upper position at which the cylinder 58 exhausts by way of the duct I93, and a port HI around a neck H2 on the valve; and the neck I 54 is moved up suiflciently to cut off air from the duct :93; and a neck H3 on the valve is moved up sufiiciently high so that the cylinder 6:! may exhaust through ducts I24 and l M and out at a port under the control of a valve screw H6. The valve is held in its upper position by a friction pad 85 as above described in connection with Fig. 1. the pistons 47 and 59 return. At or near the end of the stroke of the piston 59, a stop Ii"! on the piston red It? engages the upper side of the arm 10.! and moves the valve I 63 downwardly to it original position.

In this form, as will be apparent, the length of the current impulses may be adjustably varied by the valve screw 1 06 and the frequency between cycles may be varied adjustably by the valve screw H6. The cylinder 48 receiving air through the conduit 54 cannot operate the main switch contacts until after the welding machine electrodes are fully engaged as was described above.

For simplicity, the main switch and the electric circuits of Fig. l have been omitted from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in the belief that they will be suiflciently well understood from the more com plete description of the first described form and by the use of the same reference characters on the different figures, wherever possible.

The finger H9, in Figs. 2 and 3, as will be understood, operates switches 22 and 3!, not shown, for the purposes descibed for these switches in connection with Fig. 1.

The cylinders 48 and 69 being exhausted,

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction illustrated and described.

Changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of my invention without sacriflcing its advantages and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electro-fluid-pressure apparatus, an electrically energizable apparatus comprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber and a device element operable thereby, a source of fluid pressure, valve means and conduit means controlled thereby to communicate fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber to expand it and operate the device element, a switch controlling current to the device, a first fluid pressure operable means to close the switch, a second fluid pressure operable means operable to effect restoring of the fluid pressure operable means to effect opening of the switch after a predetermined time following its closure, conduit means communicating fluid pressure from the expanding apparatus chamber to both of the fluid pressure operable means to effect operation thereof after operation of the de vice element, auxiliary means operated by the second fluid pressure operable means and controlling the valve means to cause it to cut off said communication of fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber.

2. In an electro-fluid-pressure apparatus, an electrically energiZabl-e apparatus comprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber and a device element operable thereby, a source of fluid pressure, valve means and conduit means controlled thereby to communicate fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber to expand it and operate the device element, a switch controlling current to the device, a first fluid pressure operable means to close the switch, a second fluid pressure operable means operable to effect restoring of the first fluid pressure operable means to effect opening of the switch after a predetermined time following its closure, conduit means communicating fluid pressure from th expanding apparatus chamber to both of the fluid pressure operable means to eflect operation thereof after operation of the device element, auxiliary means operated by the second fluid pressure operable means and controlling the valve means to cause it to cut ofl said communication of fluid pressure to th apparatus chamber, and means to delay operation of the auxiliary means for a predetermined time interval after opening of the switch.

3. In an electro-fiuid-pressure apparatus, an electrically energizable apparatus comprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber and a device element operable thereby, a source of fluid pre sure, valve means and conduit means controlled thereby to communicate fluid pressure to the r-pparatus chamber to expand it and operate the device element, a switch controlling current to the device, a first fluid pressure operable means to close the switch, a second fluid pressure operable means operable to effect restoring of the first fluid pressure operable means to effect opening of the switch after a predetermined time following its closure, conduit means communicating fluid pressure from the expanding apparatus chamber to both of the fluid pressure operable means to eflect operation thereof after operation of the device element, auxiliary means operated by the second fluid pressure operable means and controlling the valve means to causeit to cut off communication of fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber, and means to variably delay operation of th second fluid pressure operable means to vary the said predetermined time during which the switch remains closed.

4. In an electro-fluid-pressure apparatus, an electrically energizable apparatus comprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber and a device element operable thereby, a source of fluid pressure, valve means and conduit means controlled thereby to communicate fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber to expand it and operate the device element, a switch controlling current to the device, a first fluid pressure operable means to close the switch, a second fluid pressure operable means operable to effect restoring of the first fluid pressure operable means to effect opening of the switch after a predetermined time following its closure and to then restore itself, conduit means communicating fluid pressure from the expanding apparatus chamber to both of the fluid pressure operable means to efiect operation thereof after operation of the device element, auxiliary means operated by the second fluid pressure operable means and controlling the valve means to cause it to cut off said communication of fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber, and operable by Said second fluid pressure operable means upon restoring thereof and controlling the valve means to cause it to again effect said communication of fluid pressure to the chamber.

5. In an electro-fiuid-pressure apparatus, an electrically energizable apparatus comprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber and a device element operable thereby, a source of fluid pressure, valve means and conduit means controlled thereby to communicate fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber to expand it and operate the device element, a switch controlling current to the device, a first fluid pressure operable means to close the switch, a second fluid pressure operable means operable to effect restoring of the first fluid pressure operable means to effect opening of the switch after a predetermined time following its closure and to then restore itself, conduit means communicating fluid pressure from the expanding apparatus chamber to both of the fluid pressure operable means to effect operation thereof after operation of the device element, auxiliary means operated by the second fluid pressure operable means and controlling the valve means to cause it to cut off said communication of fluid pressure to the apparatus chamber, and operable by said second fluid pressure operable means upon restoring thereof and controlling the valve means to cause it to again effect said communication of fluid pressure to the chamber, and means to variably delay restoring of the second fluid pressure operable means.

HARRY R. CANFIELD. 

